Joint for roofing or like sheets



Oct. 16, 1951 P. E. M CULLOUGH JOINT FOR ROOFING OR LIKE SHEETS Filed Jan. 28, 1948 "I A INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

Claims.

The present invention relates to joints between a pair of contiguous metallic sheets, and has for its main object the provision of a suitable means at the adjacent edges of a pair of sheets whereby the same may be interengaged and interlocked when brought to an edge to edge relation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a rib along an edge of a sheet, with a sheath formed along an edge of another sheet, wherein said rib may be received when the two sheets are brought to an edge to edge relation, and whereby said rib may be enveloped for forming a joint between said rib and said sheath, with means provided at the body of the first named sheet for interengaging and interlocking said sheath for maintaining the latter in a rigid engaged position with relation to the said rib, for forming thereby a joint between a pair of sheetswhen in an edge to edge relation.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a suitable joint of the character indicated for a pair of metallic sheets which may be impervious to water when the sheets are used for roofing or similar purpose.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is an enlarged end view of a joint made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of metallic sheets with preformed joint edges in the position immediately preceding to their interengagement and interlocking;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a preformed edge of one of the sheets, of a modified construction; and- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the formed joint with a filler therein, which may be optionally used with the joint for adding rigidity thereto.

Referring to the present drawing in detail there is shown therein a pair of sheets I0 and II. The marginal edge of sheet In is suitably formed for effecting a complementary part of the joint to be engaged by a complementary part of the joint formed at the marginal edge'in sheet II, in order that the two parts may interengage sheet I I.

and interlock when the sheets are brought to an edge to edge relation. Said complementary part of the joint in sheet I!) includes hook I2 which is formed out of the body of sheet In by doubling the same upon itself for effecting stem I3 which is in a substantially perpendicular relation with the body of sheet I9, and hook proper I4, which extends from said stem I3 and is inclined toward the body of sheet III, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The free marginal portion of sheet I0, past said hook I2, is rolled into an upward direction for defining a cylindrical rib I5, with the edge of said sheet I 0 within said rib I5 contacting the body portion of sheet ID, as at IS.

The diameter of said rib I5 is considerably longer than the height of stem I3, as is clearly seen in Fig. 1. Stem I3 and hook proper I4 are in a spaced relation with rib I5. Both said stem I3, with hook proper I4, and rib I5 are in a longitudinal relation with the margin of sheet The marginal portion of sheet I I is suitably preformed for engaging and interlocking the same with the joint part of sheet Ill hereinabove described. Said marginal portion of sheet vI'Iis doubled up upon itself for forming an arcuate, trough-like sheath IT, with flange I8 extending outwardly of the margin of said sheath I1 and in an acute-angular relative position therewith. The free edge of the margin of said sheet II, extending from said sheath IT, in a downward direction, is left free for efiecting flap I9 which is left substantially on the plane with the body of In the preformed condition ofsa d sheath I I, flange I8 and flap I9, the free end of said sheath II, adjacent said flange I8, remains in a substantially parallel relation with said flap I9, as is seen in Fig. 2, for the purpose hereinafter described. Said flap I9 is provided with'a plurality of spaced apertures 20 in a longitudinal relation with said flap I9 for receiving therein nails or screws 2| by means of which flap I9 may be rigidly aiiixed to any suitable base, such as roof foundation.

In the modified formation of the edge of sheet II, illustrated in Fig. 3, the marginal portion of the sheet is not doubled up upon itself, as is shown in Fig. 2, but sheath I I is in a single layer, being continuation of the body portion of sheet II, with flange I8 extending from the free edge of said sheath II. In the said modified form of the margin of sheet II flap I9 embodies an oblong sheet strip welded, or otherwise suitably attached to the corner efiected by the juncture of the body of sheet I I and said sheath l1.

When sheet II has been attached to the roof foundation or any other base, by means of nails or screws 2|, sheet In is then brought to said sheet II in an edge to edge relation, with rib 15 inserted within the space defined by the free edge of sheath l! and flap I9, with the periphery of said rib l5 contacting the arcuate inner ends of said sheath [land flap l9, as is seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

When said rib i5 remains in an operative position with relation to said sheath IT, as aforesaid;

flange l8 and the free edge Ofsheath" I1-are= then pressed downwardly against the remaining upward peripheral portion of rib l5; inorder to curve the free marginal portion of saidsheath,

l1 therearound. Further pressure upon flange l8 will fiex the same downwardly past'th'efree end of hook proper l4. During this operation stem' 13 with hook proper M, as well as flange If desired, filler 22, which may consist of a cylindrical rod made of wood or any other suitable material, maybe inserted within rib i5 and left in the joint for adding'thereto a degree of rigidity and preventing denting of the joint. Filler 22 'may be used in the process of formation" ofribl5 and thereupon left therewithin.

Optionally strip 23, made of rubber or any other impervious'flexible material, may be rigidly afiixed torib l5, in a longitudinal relation therewith and along the uppermost point of its periphery, for providing a seal'between the-said rib and the contacting inner faceof sheath IT,

as seen in Fig. 1, thereby preventing seepage of liquid; such aswa'ter, which may otherwise entertl'i'e'zjoint"v and pass below theplane of sheets l3 and I1. 7

Although rib 5 1s preferably-of anannular formation" on a transverse cross-section, it is understood that it need not be restricted to that formation, but may he polygonal if desired. Sheath H, however, should be'preformed 130001- respond'to the formed contour'of rib I5 in'order that thetwo*maycloselycontact. v

Spot-welding, soldering or otherwise rigidly binding the-two leavesof stem l3, and the base ofsheath I] with the adjacent portion orflap 19,. will. prevent, distortion or opening of said stem l3 andof sheath H with. relation to flap 19.

While there is described herein. a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A' joint for binding a pair of roofing sheets brought into an edge to edge relation, comprising a rib along an edge of one of said sheets, a rib engaging member along an edge of the other of said sheets, said rib engaging member being formed out of the marginal body portion of said second named sheet, a hook projecting from said first-mentioned sheet and spaced 'from said rib, said hook being inturned with its edge toward said rib, a flap extending from the body portion of said second named sheet substantially at a point of juncture of said rib engaging member and the adjacent body portion of said second named sheet, said rib and said rib engaging member extending above the plane of said sheets and on one side. thereof, means. for: affixing, said flap to a'roofingfoundation, said" rib engaging member and said flap defining a substantially U- shaped sheath for receiving therewithin said rib with"the sheath'embracing the rib and the flap extending between the rib and the roofing foundation, said rib engaging member being adapted to. hex in anenveloping contactual relation around said rib and a flange carried upon said rib engaging member in position to engage said hook for maintaining the rib engaging member in'. an envelopingrelation with said rib.

2. A joint fora pair of sheets along their contacting edges comprising. a rib extending along:

one-'edge'of'one of said sheets, a hook'projecting from the surface of said sheet and on the same. side thereof as said rib, said book being inturned toward said rib and spaced therefrom, a sheath' extending. along the other-of'said sheets, a flap extending along the edge of said second sheet, said flap and sheath forming asubstantially continuous U-shaped member, and a flange extending along one side of said sheath and forming a hook'turne'd outwardly from said sheath in' position to engage under the hook on said first-mentioned sheet whensaid flap extends under said first-mentioned sheet and said sheath embraces said rib;

3. A'joint for a pair of sheetsalong theircohtacting edges comprising a rib extending along one edge of one of said-sheets, a hook projecting.

from the surface of said sheet and'on the same side thereof as-said rib, said hook being inturned toward 'said-riband spaced therefrom, a sheath extending substantially along one edge of the. second sheet, a flap extending substantially along said edgeof's'aid second sheet, said sheath and flap'being formed by bending said sheet back upon itself with said flap extending from said'sheet, and'an outwardly bent flange formed substantiallyalong the edge of said sheath'opposite the'flap; said flange engaging with said hook to lock said sheets together along their edges when said sheath embraces the rib and the fiap extends under said rib.

'4. A joint for a-p'airof sheets'along their contacting edges comprising a rib extending alongoneedgeof one of said sheets, a'hook projecting from thesui'face-ofsaid sheet and on the same side thereof as said rib, said hook being inturned toward said rib andspa'ced therefrom, a sheathextending along one edge of the-second sheet,- a flap extending along said edge of said second sheet, said: sheath and flap being formedv by bending said sheet:back upon itself. with said flap i. extending in a single thickness from said sheet,-

an-outwardlybent flange formed substantially along -the=edge of saidsheath opposite the flap,- said flange engaging-with said hook to lock saidsheets, together along their edges when said sheath' embraces the rib and the flap extends under said rib; and'sealing means extending alongsaid rib and located between the rib and sheath.

5. A-joint for a pair ofsheets along'their contacting edges comprising a rib extending throughout the length of one edge of one of said sheets, a hook projecting from the surface of said sheet and on the same side thereof as said rib, said hook being inturned toward said rib and spaced therefrom, a sheath extending substantially throughout the length of one edge of said second sheet, a flap extending substantially throughout the length of said edge of said second sheet, means for securing said flap to a roofing foundation, said sheath and flap being formed by bending said sheet back upon itself with said flap extending in a single thickness from said sheet,

and an outwardly bent flange formed substantially along the edge of said sheath opposite the flap, said flange engaging with said hook to lock 1" said sheets together along their edges when said sheath embraces the rib and the flap extends under said rib.

PATRICK E. MCCULLOUGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Probert Sept. 8, 1914 

